Inflatable occupant restraint cushion

ABSTRACT

A vehicle body includes a steering column mounting a conventional steering wheel having a hub portion and a rim portion joined to the hub portion by spokes. A conventional gas generating device is mounted on the hub portion. An inflatable cushion includes a generally frusto-conically shaped inner wall mounted on the hub around the gas generator and merging into a generally arcuate cross section side wall which merges into the outer wall of the cushion. The outer wall is intended to be engaged by the driver. A tubular porous member extends from the inner wall around the gas generator to the outer wall to provide for diffusion of the generated gas and to also limit the movement of the outer wall with respect to the inner wall to provide in the former a depression of generally shallow concave cross section.

Unite States Arntson et a1.

' 1 Apr. 17, 1973 [54] INFLATABLE OCCUPANT RESTRAllNT CUSHION [73]Assignee: General Motors Detroit, Mich.

[22] Filed: May 3, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 139,638

Corporation,

[52] US. Cl ..280/l50 AB, 5/348 R, 267/117, 267/142, 267/118, 280/87 R,280/150 B [51] Int. Cl ..B06r 21/08 [58] Field of Search ..280/150 AB,150 B, 280/87 11,87 A; 5/348, 349; 180/78; 267/117, 118, 142; 74/5523,614,901 10/1971 Henning ..74/552 3,016,764 1/1962 Fredericks et a1..74/552 3,172,683 3/1965 DAntini ..74/552 X Primary Examinerl(enneth H.Betts Assistant Examiner-John P. Silverstrim AttorneyW. E. Finken andHerbert Furman [57] ABSTRACT A vehicle body includes a steering columnmounting a conventional steering wheel having a hub portion and a rimportion joined to the hub portion by spokes. A conventional gasgenerating device is mounted on the hub portion. An inflatable cushionincludes a generally frusto-conically shaped inner wall mounted on thehub around the gas generator and merging into a generally arcuate crosssection side wall which merges into the outer wall of the cushion. Theouter wall is intended to be engaged by the driver. A tubular porousmember extends from the inner wall around the gas generator to the outerwall to provide for diffusion of the generated gas and to also limit themovement of the outer wall with respect to the inner wall to provide inthe former a depression of generally shallow concave cross section.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 1 H975 VEN TORS. Co Hmfsm 5 BY0/22 Rasmzssezz M M ATTORNEY INFLATABLE ()CCUPANT RESTRAINT CUSHION Thisinvention relates generally to inflatable occupant restraint cushionsand more particularly to such cushions for the driver of the vehicle.

Inflatable occupant restraint cushions for vehicle drivers are known.Generally such cushions are mounted within the steering wheel of thevehicle and project outwardly of the rim of the wheel when inflated forengagement by the driver.

The cushion of this invention is of this general type but differs inthat the outer wall which is presentable to the driver includes agenerally toroidal outer edge portion bounding a-generally centrallylocated depressed portion of generally outwardly opening concave crosssection. This cross section results in improved directional control ofthe driver and is provided by limiting movement of the outer wall withrespect to the inner wall upon inflation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the depression resultsfrom a generally porous tubular member joined to the inner wall aroundthe gas generator and joined to the central portion of the outer wall.The tubular member diffuses the products of combustion in addition tolimiting the movement of the outer wall with respect to the inner wall.The portion of the outer wall bounded by the tubular member may beprovided with a deflector member which is also heat resistant.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide animproved inflatable occupant restraint cushion particularly intended forvehicle drivers and which includes an outer wall presentable to suchdriver and having a depression of generally outwardly opening concavecross section therein bounded by an outer generally annular portion.

This and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent fromthe following specification and drawing wherein:

' FIG. 1 is a view of a vehicle body embodying an inflatable occupantrestraint cushion according to this invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a vehicle body designated generally includes afront seat 12 which supports a driver 14 in seated position. Aconventional steering column 16 mounts a conventional steering wheel 18which includes a hub portion 20 and a rim 22 interconnected by spokes24.

A cushion 26 according to this invention, FIGS. 1 and 2, includes aninner wall 28 which is generally of frusto-conical cross section whenthe cushion is inflated. Wall 28 is secured to the hub portion 20 arounda conventional gas generator 30 mounted on the hub portion. The innerwall 28 is of generally annular shape viewed in plan and merges into anannular side wall portion 32 of generally arcuate cross section which inturn merges into an outer wall 34 presentable to the driver uponinflation of the cushion.

A tubular member 36 of porous or semi-porous materialprovided with aplurality of apertures extends between the inner wall 28 around the gasgenerator 30 and the outer wall 34, being conventionally secured toeach. It will be noted that the gas generator 30 opens to the member 36and that the member 36 in turn inflates the cushion 26.

The member 36 provides a limit on the movement of the wall 34 relativeto the wall 28 whereby upon inflation, the wall 34 is provided with adepression 38 of generally outwardly opening concave cross section. Thisis bounded, of course, by a generally toroidal shaped portion of theouter wall and of the cushion.

The central depression 38 aids in directional control of the driver 14should the cushion be inflated and the driver engage the cushion.

A metalor heavy fabric plate 40 may be provided at the outer end of themember 36 to receive the initial pressure of the resultant fluidgenerated by the gas generator 30 and to also act as a heat-resistantshield between such resultant fluid and the driver 14. Also, this wallmay have a foam or similar type covering to trap any particles resultingfrom the gas generator.

Thus, this invention provides an improved vehicle body occupantrestraint cushion.

We claim:

1. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion comprising in combination,an inner wall, an outer annular wall joined to the inner wall to definea pressure fluid receiving cavity therewith and being movable relativeto the inner wall upon receipt of pressure fluid within the cavity,inflatable means within the cavity inter-connecting the inner wall andthe central portion of the outer wall to limit the movement of thecentral portion of the outer wall relative to the peripheral portionbounding the central portion and provide the outer wall with a centraldepression of generally outwardly opening concave cross section, andmeans communicating the cavity and the inflatable means to each otherfor inflation of both from a common source of pressure fluid.

2. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion comprises in combination, aninner wall, an outer annular wall joined to the inner wall to define apressure fluid receiving cavity therewith and being movable relative tothe inner wall upon receipt of pressure fluid within the cavity, aninner inflatable member coaxially related to the inner wall andinter-connecting the inner wall and the central portion of the outerwall to limit the movement of the central portion of the outer wallrelative to the peripheral portion thereof and provide the outer wallwith a central depression of generally outwardly opening concave crosssection, means communicating the inner inflatable member with a sourceof pressure fluid, and means communicating the inner member with thecavity for inflation of the cushion from the inner member.

3. In combination with the vehicle body including a source of pressurefluid, a steering column mounting a steering wheel having a hub and arim located in spaced relationship thereto, an inflatable occupantrestraint cushion including an inner wall of generally frustoconicalshape projecting from the hub outwardly of the rim, means mounting theinner wall adjacent the inner end thereof to the hub of the steeringwheel, an outer wall closing the outer end of the inner wall andcooperating therewith to define a pressure fluid receiving cavity, aninner inflatable member enclosed within the inner and outer walls andinter-connecting the inner end of the inner wall and the central portionof the outer wall to limit movement of the central portion of the outerwall relative to the peripheral portion thereof and provide the outerwall with a central depression of generally outwardly opening concavecross section, means communicating the source of pressure fluid with theinner inflatable member adjacent the inner end of the inner wall, andmeans communicating the inner inflatable member with the cavity toinflate the cushion and the inner member from a 5 common source.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the inner inflatablemember is of generally tubular shape.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.5,727,9 +2 Dated April '7, 1973 Inv nt r( Gary L. Arntson et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Under "References Cited" the reference "2,919,7h7 1/1960 Post 5/5LI-9X"should be deleted and the following reference substituted:

-- 1,673,656 6/1928 Perry 267/117 Signed and sealed this 13th day of May1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officerand Trademarks FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s GOVERNMENYPRINTING OFFICE: 93 O

1. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion comprising in combination,an inner wall, an outer annular wall joined to the inner wall to definea pressure fluid receiving cavity therewith and being movable relativeto the inner wall upon receipt of pressure fluid within the cavity,inflatable means within the cavity inter-connecting the inner wall andthe central portion of the outer wall to limit the movement of thecentral portion of the outer wall relative to the peripheral portionbounding the central portion and provide the outer wall with a centraldepression of generally outwardly opening concave cross section, andmeans communicating the cavity and the inflatable means to each otherfor inflation of both from a common source of pressure fluid.
 2. Aninflatable occupant restraint cushion comprises in combination, an innerwall, an outer annular wall joined to the inner wall to define apressure fluid receiving cavity therewith and being movable relative tothe inner wall upon receipt of pressure fluid within the cavity, aninner inflatable member coaxially related to the inner wall andinter-connecting the inner wall and the central portion of the outerwall to limit the movement of the central portion of the outer wallrelative to the peripheral portion thereof and provide the outer wallwith a central depression of generally outwardly opening concave crosssection, means communicating the inner inflatable member with a sourceof pressure fluid, and means communicating the inner member with thecavity for inflation of the cushion from the inner member.
 3. Incombination with the vehicle body including a source of pressure fluid,a steering column mounting a steering wheel having a hub and a rimlocated in spaced relationship thereto, an inflatable occupant restraintcushion including an inner wall of generally frusto-conical shapeprojecting from the hub outwardly of the rim, means mounting the innerwall adjacent the inner end thereof to the hub of the steering wheel, anouter wall closing the outer end of the inner wall and cooperatingtherewith to define a pressure fluid receiving cavity, an innerinflatable member enclosed within the inner and outer walls andinter-connecting the inner eNd of the inner wall and the central portionof the outer wall to limit movement of the central portion of the outerwall relative to the peripheral portion thereof and provide the outerwall with a central depression of generally outwardly opening concavecross section, means communicating the source of pressure fluid with theinner inflatable member adjacent the inner end of the inner wall, andmeans communicating the inner inflatable member with the cavity toinflate the cushion and the inner member from a common source.
 4. Thecombination recited in claim 3 wherein the inner inflatable member is ofgenerally tubular shape.